Tributaries

When we called the Kern River Fly Shop about a week before our scheduled trip to fish the Kern, we talked to Guy and Kimberly and they forewarned us that the Kern was flowing high and fast and that we would likely have to fish some of its tributaries. After we arrived in the area and hooked up the SaraLinda, we headed to Kernville just to look around and grab some groceries. As we crossed the Kern river in town, we looked down and saw just why they’d prepared us to fish the tributaries; it churned wildly and looked like chocolate milk.

The next morning, when we arrived at the fly shop, we met Guy and Kimberly and talked about our day; we’d be fishing several “nunya” creeks that are a part of the Kern drainage. We left the shop in Guy’s 4×4 truck and headed up Mountain Highway 99, a road that parallels the Kern River. As we climbed higher and higher, the Kern flowed even faster as it tumbled down the riverbed and in many spots, overflowed its banks. The landscape changed as we crossed the Kern River bridge, becoming a beautiful forest on both sides of the road, and we climbed even higher into the Sequoia National Forest.

Guy was really kind to us, taking us to some “secret” spots where we would be fishing in beautiful surroundings for Kern River trout and golden/rainbow hybrid trout. Barb and I both love fishing tributaries to larger streams that hold beautiful smaller fish. I was using my 4wt rod and Guy had Barb using a Reddington Trout Classic 3wt, which would ultimately cost us, as Barb loved the 3wt so much, we got one the next day.

We had an absolute blast fishing these small creeks with Guy, walking from hole to hole, eating lunch right on the banks of one creek and getting a double right after lunch…both Barb and I with a fish on at the same time. FUN!!!

We interviewed Guy in a stand of huge pine trees after a great day on the water. We know you’ll enjoy his “Guide Talk” interview as Guy is a great guide, and as we found out, a man of many talents. Enjoy and as always….